Electric welding apparatus



Feb. 1, 1938. R. A, TERRELL 2,107,093

ELECTRIC WELDING APPARATUS Feb. 1, 193s. R. A. TERREL; 2,107,093

ELECTRIC WELDING APPARATUS Filed April l5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 sa Hlm IH llnlll Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Ralph A. Terrell, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Borg- Wamer Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 13, 1936, Serial No. 74,077

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a welding machine employing novel work holding parts and an improved welding electrode for operating in c onjunction therewith.

5 The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a machine for expediting a welding process for fabricating containers from sheet metal.

Sheet metal containers having a restricted or bottle-neck opening may be made of two preformed parts of which onev is the main body and the other the neck portion of such container. Said parts are secured together by a leak-proof welded joint extending continuously about the 5 finished container side wall. To ensure that the welded joint shall be the same in all instances and that all containers shall possess uniformity of size and shape, the container parts are preliminarily secured together in a standard fashion prior to effecting the final weld. The present apparatus provides means for arranging the parts in position for assembly and for fastening them selectively in place by a series of preliminary spot welds. Thereafter, the partly finished work is removed to other apparatus for further treatment.

A thorough understanding of the invention will be had upon reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying two sheets of drawings, hereby made a part of this specication, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally through a machine embodying the present invention Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken on 35 the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing structural details of certain parts of the machine, and taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

The same reference characters are used for 40 designating similar parts shown in the several views of the drawings and described hereinafter.

In Fig. 1 the machine will be seen to rest upon a, base I0 which may be made of cast iron. About the upper outer section of the base IIJ is formed d a ball race il upon which are a series of ball bearings I2 in support of a turret designated generally by the reference character I3.

Extending radially from the base portion of turret I3 is a flange I4 having a series of recesses I5 spaced thereabout for the reception of cushion springs I6; see Figs. 1 and 2. The springs I6 support an annular workholder member I1 having a seat II!` and a groove I9 extending continuously thereabout for receiving a part of the work 55 to be handled by the machine. Adjacent to each electrode.

vof spaced apart ears 35 carrying a pin 36 to which (Cl. 21S-4) of the recesses I5 and disposed radially inwardly therefrom are apertures which receive the heads of bolts 2|, the latter being threaded into apertures 22 within the work holder member I1 for rmly holding the latter upon the cushion 5 springs I6. A slight space is left between the workholder I1-and the flange I4, so that there may be relative vertical movement therebetween incident to compressing the springs I6 as permitted by the bolts 2| of which the heads are free 10 to move vertically within the apertures 20. The

-upper part of the turret I3 consists of a cylindrical section 23 having a plurality of spacedapart vertical openings 24. Upon the top of the cylindrical section 23 is a dished plate 25, bolts l5 26 being used for securing said parts together. The central section of the plate contains a bushing 21. e

A circular flange 28 extends upwardly from the base portion of the turret I3 and contains a series of radial bearings 29 in alignment with the slots I 24. Axially of the bearings 29 are bearings 30 formed within the side wall of the cylindrical turret section 23. Bearings 29 and 30 carry reciprocal electrode stems 3| which carry electrode 25 shoes 32 upon their outer ends. Reference to Fig. 2 will show that the electrode shoes 32 have bifurcations 33 upon one end and a tongue 34 upon the opposite end whereby the bifurcations of each of the electrode shoes are adapted to receive the tongue of a shoe adjacent thereto. The outer side of each shoe 32 is arcuate, so that when the stems 3| are in their outer radial position, the outer sides of said shoes will form a circular outline. 'I'he tongue and groov-e structure of said 35 electrode shoes adapts them to be clustered together and permits of the electrode structure being collapsed incident to the stems 3I being retracted radially inwardly. -In other words, the shoes are component parts of a, large collapsible 40 Each electrode shoe 32 has a pair is pivotally connected an operating rod 31. Each of the rods 31 has a ball 38 upon its inner end for pivotal connection with a` bearing head 39 45 secured upon the upper end of a vertically reciprocal shaft 40. The bearing head 39 is disposed rotatively upon the shaft 40 and is held against axial movement upon such shaft by means of ball bearings 4I and 42. A shoulder 43 upon the shaft 50 40 has a collar 44 resting thereon to properly space the bearing 4I axially of the shaft, and a nut screwed upon the upper end of the shaft serves to press the bearings 4I and 42 and the bearing head 39 snugly together. A 55 Upon the lower end of the vertically reciprocal rod is a piston 46 contained within a cylinder 41, which is supported upon a horizontal interior wall 48 of the base I0. A spring chamber 49 has a threaded connection at 50 with the lower end of the cylinder 41, said chamber 49 containing a relatively strong compression spring 5|, which constantly urges the piston 46 toward its upper limit of reciprocation. The piston 46 is adapted to be moved downwardly againstthe urge of the spring 5| by compressed fluid such as air. Fluid is admissible to the cylinder 41 through a duct 52 to which such fluid is supplied through a conduit 53.

Means for rotating the turret I3 intermittently through equal distances will now be described. Rotatively disposed upon a shoulder 54 of the base I0 is a ring 55 having an elongated arcuate notch 56 within the outer periphery of its back or right side, Fig. 1. A pin 51 anchored within a bearing bracket 58 projects upwardly into the notch 56. The pin 51, by abutting against the two extremities of the notch 56, provides limits for oscillatory movement of the ring 55. Bolts 59 hold an operating handle 60 upon the front or left side, Fig. 1, of the ring 55. Said bolts 59 further secure a latch housing 6| upon the ring 55. The latch housing is apertured at 62 and has a hollow section 63 for receiving the bolt of a latch 64 and a spring 65, which constantly urges the latch 64 upwardly. The lower end of the latch 64 projects through an aperture 61 within they operating handle 60. Upward movement of the latch 64 under the influence of spring 65 is limited by the abutment of an enlarged section 68 of the latch. In Figs. l and 3, it may be seen that the upper end of the latch 64 is bevelled to facilitate its cooperation with a series of lugs 69 spaced equidistantly about and projecting downwardly from the flange 4 upon the base of the turret I3. The flange I4 carries the same number of lugs 69 as there are shoes 32 of the expansible and contractible electrode. Each lug 69 has an inclined face 10 and a vertical face 1| for coacting with the latch 66 in a manner hereinafter described.

The bracket 58 contains a bearing 12 which cooperates with a bearing 13 in a bracket 14 for reciprocally containing a rod 15. Brackets 58 and 14 may be secured in any conventional manner to a side wall of the base I0. A collar 16 is fastened rigidly to the rod 15, and has a forwardly extending part 11 containing a groove 18 which receives a rib 19 formed upon the back wall of the base I0. The rib 19 and groove 18 prevent rotative movement of the rod 15 while permitting vertical movement thereof. A spring coiled about the lower part of the rod 15 constantly exerts a force between the bearing bracket 14 and collar 16 whereby the rod 15 is always urgedA upwardly. Downward movement of the rod 15 in opposition to the force ofr spring 80 is had by means of a piston 8| disposed within a cylinder 82, and having a connection with the collar 16 through the forwardly extending portion 11 thereof and a pin 83. The cylinder 82 is connected by means of a pin 84 to an ear 85 projecting from the back wall of the base I0. When a fluid under pressure is introduced into the upper part of the cylinder 82 through a conduit 84', the piston 8| and the rod 15 will be forced downwardly.

Pivotally disposed upon the upper end of rod 15Y by means of its shank 86 is a plate holder arm 81. The shank 86 is held selectively spaced along diagonally abutting peripheral edges.

the rod 15 by means of collars 88 and 89. The outer end of arm 81 has a spindle 90 anchored therein. Upon the spindle 90 is journalled a workholder plate 9| having an annular seat 92 about its lower peripheral edge. The spindle 90 carries a bearing member 93 tapered near its lower edge. so that the spindle 90 may be easily guided into telescopic relation with the journal 21.

'I'he operation of the machine will now be described:

Manipulation of pistons 46 and 8| which are actuated from a source of pressure fluid is controlled by an auxiliary valve mechanism not shown. Such valve mechanism is rst operated so as to release all pressure within the cylinders 41 and 82, whereupon spring 5| will force the inner ends of operating rods 31 upwardly to the position indicated in dotted outline, thereby collapsing the electrode comprising electrode shoes 32. lConcurrently, the rod 15 will be moved upwardly upon the inuence of the spring 80, whereby the work-holder plate 9| is elevated to a position above that in which it is illustrated in Fig. 1. Thereafter, the arm 81 is pivoted to carry the work-holder plate 9| out of registry with the work-holder ring I1. While the electrode is, as described above, collapsed, a piece of work consisting of a ring-like piece |00 of sheet metal is telescoped over the electrode, and disposed upon the seat |8. 'I'he groove |9 within the holder member I1 is adapted to receive the rolled edge |0| circumscribing the constricted opening within the piece |00. The piece |00 illustrated is the neck portion for -a sheet metal container, and is shown inverted in the machine. Prior to its insertion into the machine, the ring-like piece |00 has its upwardly disposed edge diagonally kerfed as indicated at |02. With the piece |00 seated upon the machine as described, the fluid pressure control valve mechanism is adjusted to direct uid into the cylinder 41, whereby to force the piston 46 downwardly and expand the electrode against the kerfed section of the work. This operation accurately centers the piece upon the machine and straightens any irregularities which may exist in the kerfed section. Next, the fluid pressure is eased off" in the cylinder 41 to slightly contract the electrode shoes 32. The work piece |03 for forming the bottom of the container is next inverted over the plate 25 and its kerfed edge,

also illustrated at |02, slipped about the outer A edge of the electrode and into abutting relation with the kerfed section of the bottle neck portion of the work. The arm 81 is then pivoted to carry work-holder member 9| over the piece |03, and the fluid control valve manipulated to introduce fluid into the cylinder 82, thus forcing the workholder 9| downwardly for pressing the work sections |03 and |00 firmly together. It will be observed that during this operation the outer side of the collapsible electrode serves as a guide for directing the two pieces oi' work together at their The valve mechanism is next manipulated to increase the fluid pressure above cylinder 46, so that the electrode shoes 32 are brought to bear more firmly against the inner sides of the work parts |09 and |03. This having been done, the machine is in readiness for intermittent rotation of the turret between periods of spot welds being effected upon the work.

Movement of the operating handle 60 clockwise, as viewed from above, will bring the latch 64 against the vertical face 1| of a stud 89,

whereby the ring 55 is rotated to on.` of its re- 75 ciprocal limits determined by the pin 51. When at such limit, one of the electrode shoes 32 will be brought into registry with a pair of electrodes |04 shown in dottedV outline in Fig. 2. The electrodes |04 are a part of a welding gun (not shown) disposed beside the present machine and adapted to co-operate therewith in the welding together of the pieces |00 and |03. The present machine including the electrode shoes 32 thereof is maintained at ground potential, whereas the electrodes |04 are maintained ata much higher potential so that when the latter are carried radially inwardly against the kerfed sections |0| of the Work parts 00 and |03, an electric current will pass between each of the electrodes |04 and the electrode shoe 32 opposite thereto. Spot welds will thus be formed at those sections Where current passesv through the work. 'Ihe welding gun containing the .lectrodes 04 may be placed at any position about the machine. Moreover, if desired, a plurality of such guns may be used on different sides of the machine. When more than one welding gun is used, the electrodes thereof will be actuated simultaneously for effecting spot welds.

Subsequent to the forming of spot welds by the flow of electric current between electrodes |04 and an electrode shoe 32, the electrodes |04 are retracted, and the operating handle 60 is shifted counter-clockwise until the ring has been rotated to its opposite oscillatory limit determined by the pin 51 when abutted by the opposite side of the notch 56. During such movement of the ring 55 the latch 66 will have been carried under the inclined face 10 of the next succeeding stud 69 and stand in readiness to engage the face 1| thereof sov that upon the next following clockwise shift of the operating handle, the turret I3 will be rotatively advanced to present the succeeding shoe 32 in registry with the electrodes |04. The electrodes |04 will again be carried against the work and additional spot welds formed along the kerfs |02. This process is repeated until a series of spot welds have been formed equi-distantly about the work for securing together the work pieces |00 and |04.

After the work has been completely spot-welded, the valve mechanism is manipulated to permit escape of the iiuid from the cylinders 41 and 82, so that the work-holder plate 9| and the electrode shoes 32 are retracted. The arm 01 is then swung to one side and the partly completed work removed from the machine. Inasmuch as the electrode is collapsed, no ditliculty will be encountered in slipping the restricted bottle neck opening over such electrode while removing the Work from the machine.

I claim:

1. A welding machine comprising a work-holder turret, a complemental rotatable work-holder plate in opposed coaxial relation with said turret, and a welding electrode rotatable with said turret and said plate, said electrode including a plurality of shoes movable radially of said turret.

2. A welding machine comprising a work-hold er turret, a welding electrode on said turret and including a plurality of shoes movable radially thereof, a work-holder plate rotatable coaxially with said turret and movable toward and away from said turret, and means operable to cause movement of said shoes and of said work-holder plate.

3. In a machine for welding together pieces of Work, Work-holder parts operable to press work pieces into assembly, and an expansible electrode providing mandrel means for guiding said parts into such assembly.

4. In a machine for welding together work pieces at flexible sections thereof which are adapted to intert only when of a selected shape, work-holder parts for relatively moving said pieces into assembly with the ilexible sections in intertted relationship, and an electrode adjustable in size to provide mandrel means for guiding said exible sections into such intertltted relationship while said pieces are being moved into assembly.

RALPH A. TERRELL; 

